Rail holding device



Oct. 12, 1948. J. R. SNYDER v 5 RAIL HOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Shet 1 56' 2 INVENTOR.

Jhcoa Pas/1 50705,?

B Y m m/ 2am 1948' J. R. SNYDER 2,451,414

RAIL HOLDING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /-7 .9 F76. 6 I

6 /5605 R/Sl/JNYDE? fir roe/vans Patented Oct. 12, r 1948 RAIL HOLDING DEVICE Jacob Rush Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationNovember 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,594

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to rail fastenings of the type in which a railway rail is yieldingly held against a support and, as one of its objects, aims to provide an improved fastening of this kind requiring relatively few parts which are adapted to i be economically manufactured and installed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rail fastening which, although of a simple and inexpensive construction, will safely hold a rail in the desired position for a prolonged period of service and in a manner which will result in a minimum amount of deterioration of the tie.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fastening embodying a two-piece clamp and a load spring, and wherein one of the clamp pieces is rockable on a fulcrum formed by the other piece for yieldingly applying the load of the spring to the rail flange.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rail fastening embodying upper and lower clamp pieces and a loadingspring, and wherein the upper piece applies the load of the spring to the rail flange and the lower piece'applies the load of the spring to the tie plate and also forms a fulcrum on which the upper piece is rockable. 7

Yet another object is to provide an improved rail fastening of the character mentioned in which the fulcrum forming piece of the two-piece clamp is of a novel construction and cooperates with the tie plate or with the rail flange in a manner to prevent turning of the clamp about the stem of the fastening member.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certan novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described particularly set out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying sheets of drawings Fig. l is a plan view showing two identical rail fastenings embodying the present invention and wherein portions of one of the fastenings are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l and in which one of the two fastenings is shown in vertical section and the other is shown in elevation;

Fig; 3 is a detached perspective view showing the upper member of the two-piece clamp;

Pig. i is a similar detached perspective View showing the lower member of the two-piece clamp;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified rail fastenin embodying this invention;

2 L Fig. 6 isa vertical'sectional view takentherethrough on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; t: Fig; 7 is a detached perspective viewshowing the'lower member of the'two-piece clamp em; bodied in this fastening; 1 Fig, 8 isa plan View showing anotherm'odified form of rail'fastening embodying this invention; Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken therethrough on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and; i

Fig." 10 is a detached perspective view showing the lower member of the two-piece clamp em'-.

bodied in this fastening.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a wood tie l2 having a tie plate l3 thereon and a railway rail i4 resting on the tie plate. The rail is ofa conventional type having a head Ma anda base flange l-tb; The tie plate 13 may-also. be of anonventional form and ishere shown as being a substantially rectangular metal plate havingthickened edge portions 15 extending substantially parallel with the rail andv such thickened portions having a sub-- stantially flat top surface it. The inner or adja; cent edges of the thickened portions l 5 form railgauging shoulders I! which extend along the edges of the base flange Mb. The tie plateglB also has suitable openings l8, in this instance three suohopenings, extending therethrough adjacent the shoulders IT. .The intermediate portion ofv the tie plate can be of substantially-uniform. thickness as here shown, in which casea desired inclination of the rail 14 can be obtained by- -pro vidingthe tie I2 with a sloping recess 29 therein in which the tie plateis located as shown in The improved rail fastening also includes a fastening member 2 i', a two-piece clamp compris-. ing upper and lower-members or pieces 22 and 23,- and a load-applying spring 24. When the tie 1-2. is a wooden tie as here shown the fasteningm'em: ber 2| is preferably in the formjof a screw spike havinga threaded stem portion 2m screwed; into the tie and a plain orunthreaded stem portion:

2 lbprojecting upwardly from thextie' through the.

substantially circular tie plate opening l8. :The spike is provided at its upper endwith a head. 25 which is located a substantialfdistance.above the flat surface l8 of the tie plate l3. L'Ihe'head 25'hasa'shoulder 25a on the underside thereofand a polygonal top portion 25b to which a'wrench.

or the like is adapted to be applied;

22 has an opening 22a therein through which the plain stem portion 2 lb of the fastening member extends and is of a length such that its inner end overlaps the base flange Nb of the rail Hi. The inner end of the clamp-piece 22 can be curved or bowed as shown in the drawings so as to pro" vide a rounded bearing portion 26 adaptedfor a rockable holding engagement with the top surface of the base flange Mix-The outer end of the clamp-piece 22 has a bearing portion -or;projection 21 of reduced width thereon which is en gageable in a fulcrum recess '28 provided on the lower clamp-piece 23. The reduced bearing per-- tion 21 can be obtained on the clamp-piece 22 by notching out the corners of the outer end of this piece, as indicated at 29 in Fig.3.

The lower piece 23 of the two-piece clampcom-z prises a chair-like angular member or clip constructed from sheet metal or plate stock by suitable stamping or forming operations. This piece includes a laterally extending plate portion 30 which under-lies the upper. piece 22' and has an opening 30a therein through which the stem portion 2| b of the fastening member extends." The of the tie plate l3. The upper edge of the up-- turned portion 3|, forms a support and fulcrum for the outer end of the upper clamp-piece 22 and contains the fulcrum recess 28 in which the bearing projection 21 is received. The seat portion 3'2 of the upturned portion 3| is formed by metal which is deflected or displaced from one side of the opening 30a duringthe shaping of this piece to the angular form shown in the draw:- ings. The fulcrum recess 28 is located between a pair of upstanding lugs 33 which engage inthe corner notches 29 of the outer end of the upper clamp-piece 22 when the latter is assembled on the lower piece as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The stem portion 2) of the'screw spike 2| is of a length such that the shoulderlfia, of the head "25 will be located a substantial distanceabove,

the upper piece 22 when the two pieces of the clamp are in their assembled position. The coil spring 24 is disposed around the stem portion 2 lb with its lower end seating on the upper piece 22 and is subjected to compression by the head 25 so that the piece 22 will apply a yieldable holding force to the base flange Nb of therail and the lower piece 23 will yieldingly apply a force to the tie plate 13 tending to hold the same against the tie l2. The height of the upturned portion 31 of the lower piece 23 can be varied in different specific fastenings of this construction but is preferably such that the upper. piece 22 will initially be in a downwardly and inwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper piece 22 is held from turning about" the stem portion 2 lb ofthe fastening member by the engagement of the bearing portionv 21 in' the fulcrum recess 28 and the lower piece 23 is, in turn, held from swinging or rotating about the spike. Such holding of the lower piece from turning on the spike is accomplished by providing the laterally extending portion '30 thereof with downwardly deflected lugs 35 at the sides. there-:- of which are engageable "with the edge .ofithe:

base flange Mb at longitudinally spaced points thereof. The edge portion 30b lying between the downwardly deflected lugs 35 can be deflected upwardly, as shown in Figsp2 and 4, so as to extend in spaced overlying relation to the base flange M. This intermediate section 3% forms an arcuate strip-like portion which extends around and engages the inner edge of the stem portion 2 lb of the fastening memberfor preventing outward shifting of the lower piece 23 while the-engagement of the downturned lugs 35 with the edge of the base flange prevents rotation and.

inward shifting of the lower piece. i

In assembling the fastening above described, the upperand lower pieces '22 and 23 of the twopiececlamp are placed in superposed relation with "their openings substantially aligned with the opening [8 of the tie plate. The screw spike 2|, with the spring 24 thereon in surrounding relation'to the stem portion 2Ib, is inserted through the aligned openings and screwed into the tie I2. The "screw spike is initially screwed into the tie for-a distance which will cause the convolutions of the-spring 24 to becompressed to a closed or solid conditionalong the outer edgeof the spike, that-is-to say, at a point immediately above the fulcrum recess 28. Because of theinclinedpositionofthe upper-piece 23the convolutions of the spring at the opposite side of the spike will remain in spaced-apart relation.

The compressing of the spring; convolutions to such a solid-condition at the outer side of the spike formsastop by which the driving of the spike into the tie for the correct distance is assured during the assembly operation and overloading of the clamp orstripping of the spike from the tie opening is avoided. When the fastening haslb'een installed in this manner and a few trains have passed over the rail I4,Isome settling of ,the tie plate 13 will occur and thereafter a desired'small space will also exist between the adjacent. spring convolutions at the outer side of the spike. Sincelthe outer end of the upper piece 22.15 'fulcrumed, the maximum. swinging movement of. this piece willoccur at its inner end due to rising and falling of the rail during the pas 7 sage of trains thereover and this swinging move-' be secnithat an improved'rail fastening has been provided having a 1"elatively small number of parts adapted tcbe economically produced and V assembled-J 'It'will als'obe' seen that the upper piece of the two-piece clamp is rockable on a fulcrum formed by the lower piece and applies the -load of-the spring z l to the rail flange in a manner to effectively-'holdthe rail against the tie plate and, at the same-time, the lower piece applies the load-of the spring to the tie plate for holding the latter againstthe tie so that damage to the tie'b'y' pounding of the tie plate thereon will'be minimized. I

Figs.'l-5 and' 6 show a modified form of the above described rail fastening inwhich a conventionalitie plate 37 of a' different specific form is employed. "The tie pla-te here shown has an upstanding rail-gaugingshoulder 38 thereon and has an opening 39 therethrough which includes a rectangular extension alia intersecting the shoulder 33.x The fastening also includes a twoiece clamp comprising an upper piece 4% and a lower piece ll. The upper piece 40 is similar to the upper piece 22 above described but differs therefrom by reason-of the fact that it has a downwardly curved bearing portion 4911 at its inner end which bridges over the upstanding shoulder 38, as shown in Fig. 6.- I r The lower piece 4| is generally similar to the lower piece 23 above described but differs therefrom in that the intermediate section of the laterally extending portion 42 is deflected downwardly so as to form a depending rib or lug 43 which is engageable in the square extension portion 33a of the tie plateopeningSQ. ,The engagement of the depending'rib 43 in theexten sion opening 39a holds thelower piece 4i from turning about the stem of the fastenerwor screw spike 44. In other respects, this modified-form of rail fastening is the same as the "rail fastening shown in Figs, 1 and 2'and described above and functions in substantially the same manner. Figs. 8 and 9 show another modified form of the improved rail fastening and which is of substantially the same construction as the fastening shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but differs therefrom in that the square extension 45a of the tie plate opening 45 extends in a direction away from the rail and thelower piece 46 of the two-piece clamp has a dependinglugfl at the lower edge of the upright portion 46a thereof which engages 'in this extension opening for holding the. lower piece against turning about the screw spike 48. 1

Although different specific forms ofthe imupper and lower clamp members having substantially aligned openings therethrough, a fa s tening member extending through said openings, and a spring on said fastening member-and acting on said upper clamp membertto apply downward pressure therethrough to said flange, said lower clamp member being of a shape such that the fulcrum portion thereof is located wholly on the side of said fastening member remote from said rail. 7

In a rail fastening, a rail having a base flange resting on said supporting structure, a fulcrum member, seated on said structure adjacent said base flange and having an opening therethrough and a fulcrum portion located wholly on the side of said opening remote fromsaid rail, a retaining member having its inner end in overlapping engagement with said base flange and its outer end fulcrumed on said fulcrum portion, said retaining member having an opening therein overlying the opening of said fulcrum member, a fastening member connected with said supporting structure and having a stem portion extending through the openings of said members and a holding portion spaced above said fulcrum portion, and a spring surrounding said stem between said holding portion and said retaining member and acting on an intermediate portion of thelatter to yieldably press the retaining member against said fulcrum member and base flange,

3. In a rail fasteningj ofthe character described, a tie, a tie plate on's'aid tie 'andhaving a supporting structure,-

an. opening therein, a rail having a, base flange resting on saidtie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head-spaced above the tie plate, a twopiecev clamp comprising a 'lower clamp member seated on the tie plate-and an upper clamp member having one end fulcrumed on said lower clamp member and its other end bearing on the top surface of said base flange, said lower clamp member having an upstanding fulcrum portion located wholly. on the side of said stem remote from said rail and on which said one end of the upper clamp member. is ful-' crumed, said'upper and lower-c1amp members having substantially aligned openings through which said stem extends, and a spring surrounding said stem and engaging an intermediate portion of the upper clamp member so as to apply a load to said upper clamp member for yie1dingly holding said base flange against said tie plate; said spring also acting on said tie plate through said upper andqlower clamp members for holding tie plate against the tie.

4. In a rail fastening, a tie, a tie plate on said tie and having an opening therein, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the .tie through the opening of said-tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member,

such that when the convolutions of said spring are compressed solid at one side of said screw spike they will remainspaced apart at the other side of the screw spike to permit rocking of saidupper clamp member on said fulcrum member.

5. In a rail fastening, .a tie, a tie plate on saidtie'and having an opening therein, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike, having a stemextending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and having an opening through which said stem extends andafulcrumportion located wholly on the side of said stem remote from said rail and extending a substantial distance above the tie plate, a retaining memberhaving one endfulcrumed on saidful crum portion and at its other end having, a downwardly curved bearing portion engaging the top surface of said base flange, said retaining mem her also having an opening therein through which said stem extends, andza spring surrounding said stem and acting on an intermediate portion of said retaining member to press the latsaid tie plate and a head spaced"above thetie.

plate a fulcrummember seated'on said-tie plate and having an opening through which said stem extends and a fulcrum portion located wholly on the side of said stem remote from said rail and extending a substantial distance above said shoulder, a retaining member having one end fulcrumed on said fulcrum portion and at'its other end having a downwardly curved bearing portion arching over said shoulder and engaging the top surface of said base flange; said retaining member having an opening in an intermediate portion through which said stem extends, and a spring surrounding said stem and acting on said. intermediate portion of the retaining member to press the latter against said fulcrum portion and said base flange.

7. In a rail fastening of the character described, a tie, a tie plate on said tie and having an opening therein, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and comprising integrally connected portions including a laterally extending portion having an opening through which said stem extends and and upright fulcrum portion extending axially along the stem on the side thereof remote from the rail, a downwardly and inwardly sloping re-' taining member having its outer end rockable on said upright fulcrum portion and having a hearing portion at its inner end engaging the top surface of said base flange, said retaining member also having an opening therein through which said stem extends, and a coil spring surrounding said stem and pressing on said retaining member. I

8. In'a rail fastening of the character described, a tie, a tie' late on said tie and having an opening therein, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and comprising integrally connected portions including a laterally extending portion having an opening through which said stem extends and an upright fulcrum portion extending axially along the stem on the side thereof re mote from the rail, a retaining member having its'outer end roc'kable on said upright fulcrum portion and having a bearing portion at'its inner end engaging the top surface of said base flange, and a coil spring surrounding said stem and pressing on said retaining member, said upright fulcrum portion having a fulcrum recess in the upper end thereof and said retaining member having a reduced portion at its outer end en-- gaging in said fulcrum recess. 9. In a rail fastening of the character described, a tie, a tie plate on said tie'and having an opening therein which includes an extension portion, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screwspike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and comprising integrally connected portions including a laterally extending portion having an opening through which said stem extends and an upright fulcrum portion extending axially along the stern on the side thereof remote from the rail, a retaining member having it outer end rockable j on said upright fulcrum portion and having a bearing portion at its inner end en retaining member also having an opening through which said stein extends, and a coil ing member having its outer end rockable on said spring surrounding said stem and pressing on said retaining member, said upright 1 fulcrum portion having a reduced portion at its lower end engaging in the extension portion of'said tie plate opening. 7

'10. In a rail fastening of the character described, a tie, a-tie plate on said tie and having an opening therein, arail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and comprising integrally connected portions including a laterally extending portion having an opening through which said stem extends and an upright fulcrum'portion extending axially along the stem on the side thereof remote from the rail, a retaining member having its outer end rockable on said upright fulcrum portion and having a bearing portion at its inner end engaging the top surface or said base flange, said retaining member also having an opening through which said stem extends, and a coil spring surrounding said stem" and pressing on said retaining member, said laterally extending portion having downwardly dc flected lugs which engage the edge of said base flange at points spaced therealong.

11 In a rail fastening of the character described,'a tie, a tie plate on said tie and having an opening therein which includes an extension portion, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of sa'idtie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a fulcrum member seated on said tie plate and comprising integrally connected portions including a laterally extending portion having an opening through which said stem extends and an upright fulcrum portion extending axially along the stem on the side thereof remote from the rail, a' retaintie plate member, a fastener connectedwith said tie'and having a headed stem projecting through an' opening of said tie plate membeiya two-piece clamp comprising an upper piece overlapping said base flange for holding said rail member against said tie plate member and a lower piece forming a fulcrum for said upper piece, said upper and lower pieces having substantially aligned openings through which said stem extends and said lower piece having portions cooperating with one of said members for preventing turning of the clamp pieces about said stem, and a coil spring surrounding said stem and applying downward pressure to said clamp pieces so as to cause said upper piece to apply pressure to said flange and said lower piece to apply pressure t'o'said tie plate member, said upper piece sloping downwardly and inwardlytoward said base flange such that when the convolutions'of said spring are compressed solid at one side of the fastener they will remain spaced apart at the other side of the fastener to permit rocking of said upper piece on said lower piece 13. In a rail fastening of the character described, a tie, a tie plate on said tie and having an opening therein, a rail having a base flange resting on said tie plate, a screw spike having a stem extending into the tie through the opening of said tie plate and a head spaced above the tie plate, a two-piece clamp comprising a lower clamp member seated on the tie plate andhaving an upright portion extending along the side of the spike which is remote from the rail and provided at its upper end with a fulcrum portion and an upper clamp member having its outer end rockable on said fulcrum portion and its inner end bearing on the upper surface of said base flange, said upper and lower clamp members having substantially aligned openings through which said stem extends, and a coil spring surrounding said stem and applying a load to said upper clamp member for yieldingly holding said base flange JACOB RUS-H SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED following references are of record in the file of -this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,040,824 Armstrong May 19, 1936 2,132,571 Maney Oct. 11, 1933 2454164 Howe Apr. 11, 1939 2,324,134 Chidester July 13, 1943 2,333,548 Burkhardt Nov. 2, 1943 2,380,991 Payne Aug. 7, 1945 Gibbs Feb. 5, 1946 

